1. A. Except for species determined to be threatened or endangered pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§1531—1543, any interested person may petition the Director to add or remove a species or natural heritage area to or from a list in this chapter. The Director shall review the evidence regarding the requested action and make a recommendation to the Secretary whether or not to list or delist the species or natural heritage area.

2. B. In a petition to list or delist a natural heritage area, the following information shall be provided:

   1. (1) A map of the proposed natural heritage area;
   2. (2) A description of the physical boundaries of the proposed area, total acreage, landowner name and address;
   3. (3) A description of the biological community represented by the natural heritage area including, as far as practical, a list of the fauna and flora there, and other geologic, hydrologic, or other features which blend together to make this area unique;
   4. (4) A description of all major threats to the continued existence of the area, or if petitioning to delist an area, a description of how the natural features and species composition of the area have changed so it is no longer suitable to be designated as a natural heritage area;
   5. (5) A statement indicating why the area should or should not be considered as among the best statewide examples of its kind;
   6. (6) Other relevant information which might assist the Director in making a determination.

3. C. All sites used for evidence of current abundance shall be extant and all sitings shall be documented with appropriate vouchers. In a petition to list or delist a species, the following information shall be provided:

   1. (1) A description of the biological distribution of the species in Maryland.
   2. (2) Its life needs and habitat requirements.
   3. (3) Evidence of its decline or evidence that it is more common than previously believed and documented.
   4. (4) All known threats which jeopardize its continued existence.
   5. (5) Other relevant biological and ecological data or other life history information pertinent to its status.
   6. (6) The species shall be presently recognized as a valid species, or infraspecific taxa of regional or national significance. There shall be adequate documentation that it occurs naturally and is permanently established in Maryland.

Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§4-2A-01—4-2A-09 and 10-2A-01—10-2A-09, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01 and .02 were previously codified as Regulations .43 and .65, respectively, under COMAR 08.03.01 Wildlife Conservation. This recodification was effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

For the history of these regulations before June 3, 1985, see the Administrative History which follows COMAR 08.03.01.

Regulation .01 amended effective June 3, 1985 (12:11 Md. R. 1047)

Regulations .01 and .02 repealed effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulations .01—.11 adopted effective June 29, 1987 (14:13 Md. R. 1471)

Regulation .01 amended effective June 26, 1989 (16:12 Md. R. 1334); December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulations .04B and C, .05C, .06, .07C, .08C, .09C, and .10C amended and Regulation .11 recodified to Regulation .12 and new Regulation .11 adopted effective December 24, 1990 (17:25 Md. R. 2906)

Regulation .11-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective April 13, 1992 (19:8 Md. R. 799)

Regulation .11-1 adopted effective August 3, 1992 (19:15 Md. R. 1388)

Chapter revised effective October 24, 1994 (21:21 Md. R. 1813)

Regulation .01B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Regulation .04C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .05C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06 amended effective October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .06C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .07C amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .08C amended effective January 22, 2001 (28:1 Md. R. 25); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .09C amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578); October 22, 2007 (34:21 Md. R. 1914); April 5, 2010 (37:7 Md. R. 570)

Regulation .10B amended effective September 4, 2000 (27:17 Md. R. 1618); November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .12 amended effective November 10, 2003 (30:22 Md. R. 1578)

Regulation .14 adopted effective December 31, 2007 (34:26 Md. R. 2261)

Chapter revised effective August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 953)

Regulation .01B amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .03A amended effective September 26, 2016 (43:19 Md. R. 1071)

Regulation .04C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .05C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .06 amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93)

Regulation .06C, F, I amended effective August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .07C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .08C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)

Regulation .09C amended effective February 8, 2021 (48:3 Md. R. 93); August 4, 2025 (52:15 Md. R. 811)